Rotary steam joint

Abstract

A rotary joint for establishing supply and removal connections for flow of a working fluid between stationary external piping and the interior of a rotating drum, the joint including a stationary tubular shaft assembly about which a flanged housing is rotatably journaled, wherein a heat exchange chamber system is formed interiorly within the shaft assembly annularly thereabout and along the housing journals with a baffle within the chamber system for causing a heat exchange fluid to circulate throughout the annular and longitudinal extent of the chamber system thereby relieving the housing journals from any opposed heat exchange effects of the working fluid to enable high speed operation of the rotary joint at either relatively high or low temperatures.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A rotary joint for establishing a fluid supply connection between stationary piping and a rotating drum, said rotary joint comprising: (a) shaft means adapted to be stationarily mounted exteriorly of said drum at one axial end thereof;   (b) housing means adapted for affixation in integral rotary relation with said drum; and   (c) journal means supporting said housing means rotatably about a longitudinal end portion of said shaft means;   (d) said shaft means having: (1) means defining a supply pathway for a working fluid,   (2) means communicating with said fluid supply pathway for admitting a supply of the working fluid into said fluid supply pathway,   (3) means defining a heat exchange chamber extending interiorly within said shaft means along at least the predominate length of its said longitudinal end portion, said heat exchange chamber having an access end extending beyond said longitudinal end portion of said shaft means outwardly from said housing means, and   (4) inlet means communicating with said access end of said heat exchange chamber for admitting a supply of a heat exchange fluid into said access end of said heat exchange chamber to occupy said heat exchange chamber, to achieve effective heat exchange with respect to said journal means along substantially the full length of said longitudinal end portion of said shaft means for relieving said journal means from any opposing heat exchange effects of the working fluid within said supply pathway.     
     
     
       2. A rotary joint according to claim 1 and characterized further in that said shaft means includes outlet means communicating with said access end of said heat exchange chamber for exhausting said heat exchange fluid from said access end of said heat exchange chamber. 
     
     
       3. A rotary joint according to claim 2 and characterized further in that said inlet means and said outlet means communicate with said heat exchange chamber at opposite sides of said shaft means. 
     
     
       4. A rotary joint according to claim 1 and characterized further in that said shaft means includes inner and outer tubular members affixed in concentric relation to one another along said longitudinal end portion of said shaft means, said tubular members defining therebetween at least a main chamber area of said heat exchange chamber. 
     
     
       5. A rotary joint according to claim 4 and characterized further in that said main chamber area extends substantially annularly about said longitudinal end portion of said shaft means. 
     
     
       6. A rotary joint according to claim 4 and characterized further by means for delivering a fluid coolant into said inlet means for cooling said journal means. 
     
     
       7. A rotary joint according to claim 6 and characterized further in that said housing means includes a plurality of exterior cooling fins for increasing the exposed exterior surface area of said housing means for enhanced cooling thereof by ambient air. 
     
     
       8. A rotary joint according to claim 4 and characterized further in that said longitudinal end portion of said shaft means comprises the predominant portion of the length of said shaft means. 
     
     
       9. A rotary joint according to claim 1 and characterized further in that said heat exchange chamber extends substantially annularly about said longitudinal end portion of said shaft means. 
     
     
       10. A rotary joint according to claim 1 and characterized further by means for delivering a fluid coolant into said inlet means for cooling said journal means. 
     
     
       11. A rotary joint according to claim 10 and characterized further in that said housing means includes a plurality of exterior cooling fins for increasing the exposed exterior surface area of said housing means for enhanced cooling thereof by ambient air. 
     
     
       12. A rotary joint according to claim 1 and characterized further in that said longitudinal end portion of said shaft means comprises the predominant portion of the length of said shaft means. 
     
     
       13. A rotary joint for establishing a fluid supply connection between stationary piping and a rotating drum, said rotary joint comprising: (a) shaft means adapted to be stationarily mounted exteriorly of said drum at one axial end thereof;   (b) housing means adapted for affixation in integral rotary relation with said drum; and   (c) journal means supporting said housing means rotatably about a longitudinal end portion of said shaft means;   (d) said shaft means having: (1) means defining a supply pathway for a working fluid,   (2) means communicating with said fluid supply pathway for admitting a suply of the working fluid into said fluid supply pathway,   (3) means defining a heat exchange chamber extending interiorly within said shaft means along at least the predominant length of its said longitudinal end portion, said heat exchange chamber having an access end extending beyond said longitudinal end portion of said shaft means outwardly from said housing means,   (4) inlet means communicating with said access end of said heat exchange chamber for admitting a supply of a heat exchange fluid into said access end of said heat exchange chamber,   (5) outlet means communicating with said access end of said heat exchange chamber for exhausting said heat exchange fluid from said access end of said heat exchange chamber, and   (6) baffle means in said heat exchange chamber for defining a tortuous flow pathway for said heat exchange fluid through said heat exchange chamber between said inlet means and said outlet means for causing said heat exchange fluid to flow longitudinally within said heat exchange chamber at least a substantial portion of its length, to achieve effective heat exchange with respect to said journal means along substantially the full length of said longitudinal end portion of said shaft means for relieving said journal means from any opposing heat exchange effects of the working fluid within said supply pathway.     
     
     
       14. A rotary joint according to claim 13 and characterized further in that said heat exchange chamber defining means defines a main chamber area extending the full length of said heat exchange chamber and defines an exhaust passageway extending from an exhaust location at said access end of said heat exchange chamber out of communication with said main chamber area to an intake location at a longitudinal spacing along said shaft means in communication with said main chamber area, said inlet means being in communication with said main chamber area at said access end of said heat exchange chamber and said outlet means being in communication with said exhaust passageway at said exhaust location thereof. 
     
     
       15. A rotary joint according to claim 14 and characterized further in that said shaft means includes inner and outer tubular members affixed in concentric relation to one another along said longitudinal end portion of said shaft means, said tubular members defining therebetween said main chamber area of said heat exchange chamber and said outer tubular member defining said exhaust passageway interiorly therethrough. 
     
     
       16. A rotary joint according to claim 15 and characterized further in that said main chamber area extends substantially annularly about said longitudinal end portion of said shaft means. 
     
     
       17. A rotary joint according to claim 15 and characterized further by means for delivering a fluid coolant into said inlet means for cooling said journal means. 
     
     
       18. A rotary joint according to claim 17 and characterized further in that said housing means includes a plurality of exterior cooling fins for increasing the exposed exterior surface area of said sleeve means for enhanced cooling thereof by ambient air. 
     
     
       19. A rotary joint according to claim 15 and characterized further in that said lontiduinal end portion of said shaft means comprises the predominant portion of the length of said shaft means. 
     
     
       20. A rotary joint according to claim 14 and characterized further in that said inlet means and said outlet means communicate respectively with said main chamber area and said passageway at opposite sides of said shaft means for causing said heat exchange fluid to flow within substantially the full annular extent of said main chamber area. 
     
     
       21. A rotary joint according to claim 13 and characterized further in that said heat exchange chamber extends substantially annularly about said longitudinal end portion of said shaft means. 
     
     
       22. A rotary joint according to claim 13 and characterized further by means for delivering a fluid coolant into said inlet means for cooling said journal means. 
     
     
       23. A rotary joint according to claim 22 and characterized further in that said housing means includes a plurality of exterior cooling fins for increasing the exposed exterior surface area of said sleeve means for enhanced cooling thereof by ambient air. 
     
     
       24. A rotary joint according to claim 13 and characterized further in that said longitudinal end portion of said shaft means comprises the predominant portion of the length of said shaft means. 
     
     
       25. A rotary joint according to claim 13 and characterized further in that said inlet means and said outlet means communicate with said heat exchange chamber at opposite sides of said shaft means. 
     
     
       26. A rotary joint for establishing fluid supply and fluid exhaust connections between stationary piping and a hollow rotary drum having an axial opening therethrough and an exhaust tube supported coaxially within said axial opening for disposition within said drum, said rotary joint comprising: (a) shaft means adapted to be stationarily mounted exteriorly of said drum adjacent said axial opening, said shaft means having a hollow body and a tubular support section extending therefrom to be disposed in facing coaxial relation with said axial opening:   (b) housing means disposed concentrically about a predominant longitudinal end portion of said tubular support section and adapted for affixation rigidly to said drum in integral rotary relation therewith; and   (c) journal means disposed intermediate said tubular support section and said housing means for supporting said housing means for relative rotation about said longitudinal end portion of said tubular support section;   (d) said shaft means being characterized further in that: (1) said body includes means for receiving and supporting said exhaust tube to extend concentrically within said tubular support section,   (2) said tubular support section defines an annular supply pathway for a working fluid intermediate said tubular support section and said exhaust tube,   (3) said body includes supply fitting means for communicating with said annular fluid supply pathway for admitting a supply of the working fluid into said annular fluid supply pathway and exhaust fitting means for communicating with said exhaust tube for directing a suction force into said exhaust tube,   (4) said tubular support section defines a main annular heat exchange chamber area extending interiorly within said tubular support section along substantially the entire length of its longitudinal end portion, said main chamber area having an access region extending beyond said longitudinal end portion axially outwardly from said housing means, and a passageway extending interiorly within said tubular support section from an access location beyond said longitudinal end portion axially outwardly from said housing means out of communication with said main chamber area to a connecting location in communication with said main chamber area at a substantial spacing along the length of said longitudinal end portion of said tubular support section,   (5) said shaft means includes inlet means communicating with said access region of said main chamber area for admitting a supply of a heat exchange fluid into said access region of said main chamber area,   (6) said shaft means includes outlet means communicating with said access location of said passageway for exhausting said heat exchange fluid from said access location of said passageway, and   (7) said main chamber area and said passageway cooperatively defining a tortuous flow pathway for said heat exchange fluid between said inlet means and said outlet means for causing said heat exchange fluid to flow longitudinally within said main chamber area at least a substantial portion of its length and annular extent, to achieve effective heat exchange with respect to said journal means along substantially the full length of said longitudinal end portion of said tubular support section to relieve said journal means from any opposing heat exchange effects from the working fluid within said supply pathway.     
     
     
       27. A rotary joint according to claim 26 and characterized further in that said inlet means and said outlet means communicate respectively with said main chamber area and said passageway at opposite sides of said tubular support section for causing said heat exchange fluid to flow within substantially the full annular extent of said main chamber area. 
     
     
       28. A rotary joint according to claim 27 and characterized further in that said tubular support section of said shaft means includes inner and outer tubular members affixed in concentric relation to one another and defining therebetween said main chamber area, said outer tubular member defining said passageway interiorly therethrough. 
     
     
       29. A rotary joint according to claim 28 and characterized further by means for delivering a fluid coolant into said inlet means for cooling said journal means. 
     
     
       30. A rotary joint according to claim 29 and characterized further in that said housing means includes a plurality of exterior cooling fins for increasing the exposed exterior surface area of said housing means for enhanced cooling thereof by ambient air. 
     
     
       31. A rotary joint according to claim 30 and characterized further in that said exhaust tube receiving means is adapted for rotatably supporting said exhaust tube within said shaft means.